Sole for boots and shoes and other uses.



R. T. ELWELL.

SOLE POR BOOTS AND SHOES AND OTHER USES. PPLIOATION FILED MAY za, 1914."

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, the best results by the use of rubber.

RUSSELL T. ELWELL, 01E TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

SOLE FOR BOOTS AND SHOES AND OTHER USES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Continuation of application Serial No. 810,354, filed January 5, 1914.This application filed May 23, 1914.

v Serial No. 840,597.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUSSELL T. ELwELL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Trenton, in the countyof Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Solesfor Boots and4 Shoes and other Uses, of whichl the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on' the drawings representing like parts.

This application isa continuation of my co-pending application SerialNo. 810,354, filed January 5, 1914.

This invention relates to soles for boots and shoes and other uses, andamong other objects aims to provide a light, durable material. I hereinuse the term sole generically as including or meaning the ent-ire soleincluding the heel or any part thereof, such as the heel only or theball and shank of the sole only.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference tothe following description of one illustrative embodiment thereof shownin the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan of anillustrative sole including a heel made of the composition embodying theinvention; and Fig. 2 is ad sectional view of the sole taken on the line2 2 of Fig. l. I

Referring to the drawing, the illustrative sole shown therein asembodying one form of the invention comprises alternate layers of rubberor other suitable flexible and preferably waterproofing material and adifterent material, preferably a fabric or mass formed of feltintimately impregnated or treated with rubber in any suitable manner.While I have obtained the best results with felt, I may employ certainother fibrous materials, and while I prefer to use rubber as animpregnating material, I may employ any other suitable waterproofing,readily flexible material. I have, however, obtained The sole or otherarticle may consist of a single layer of rubber-impregnated felt orother materials, but herein I have represented the sole as composed of aplurality of layers, certain of which may consist wholly of rubber.These layers may vary in number and arrangement as desired.

If desired, and within the scope of my and to the layers, the sole maybe composed of a single sheet, strip or layers n of rubber-impregnatedfelt of any suitable thickness. If desired,

the sole may be composed of a plurality of layers, any one or more orall of which may be composed of rubber-impregnated felt. Such layer orlayers may be co-extensive with the entire sole, or with any desiredportion thereof, such as the shank portion of the sole or the heel.

As shown herein, the sole comprises two layers of rubber-impregnatedfelt a, a appropriately secured together, preferably by vulcanizing.These layers extend along the ball and shank of the sole to and beneaththe heel. Layers of rubber or other suitable flexible Vand preferablywaterproofing material, and rubber-impregnated felt, preferablyalternating, are vulcanized together portionsv of the layers extendingalong the ball of the sole. As shown herein, a rubber4 layer b isAsecured to the lower -fabric layer a, a rubber-impregnated layer c issecured to therubber layer Zi and an outer rubber layer Z is secured tothe layer c. When these layers are vulcanized together they form ineffect a composite integral whole.

The heel comprises a layer c of rubber secured to the lower felt layera, layers of rubber-impregnated felt f secured to the layer e and anouter layer g secured to the layers f. This layer g is made thicker thanthe others to provide the desired cushioning effect. All of these layersare vulcanized together and to the layer a, to form in eect a heelintegral with the shank of the sole.

In making rubber heels it is customary to insert therein metal washersfor receiving the nails which are driven into the heel in order todistribute the holding e'ect of the nails to the rubber and thereby tendto prevent the nails from pulling through the rubber. A heel constructedin accordance with my invention eliminates the necessity of t-he use ofthese washers since t-he rubberimpregnated felt is strong and tough andeffectively prevent-s the nails from pulling through. A sole constructedas described has all the advantages of a rubber sole and eliminates manydisadvantages thereof.

One great objection to the rubber sole is its Weight. Many people denythemselves the advantages of the rubber sole for this reason. The soledescribed herein is much lighter than the rubber sole, and is moredurable. The strong fibers of the felt strip or layer enable the sole tohold the stitching securely, with no liability of its pulling through asin the case of the solid rubber sole. The sole described is Waterproof,does not squeak, has great flexibility, and forms a yielding cushionpreventing jarring. The felt layer impregnated With rubber is strong andtough. Since some at least of the layers in the sole are, inthedisclosed embodiment of the invention, of this strong and toughmaterial, it is not necessary to use so much rubber as in the case of asolid rubber sole and consequently the outer rubber layer, if employed,may be made of a purer, bet-ter quality of rubber than formerly Withoutincreasing the cost of the sole as a Whole. Then the outer rubber layeris Worn through exposing the felt layer the latter will present aneifective Wear-resisting surface. While the composition of matter hasbeen described herein as applied to heels and soles for shoes, it willbe understood that it may be applied to other uses as desired.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims.

1. A boot or shoe sole, or part thereof, comprising rubber-impregnatedfelt.

2. A sole having a layer composed of rubber-impregnated felt.

3. A sole comprising alternate layers. of rubber and rubbger-impregnatedfelt vulcanized together.

4. A sole comprising layers of rubberimpregnated fabric secured togetherand extending along the shank and ball of the sole, and alternate layersof rubber-impregnated fabric and rubber vulcanized together andextending along the ball of the sole.

5. A sole composed of a plurality of layers secured together, one ofsaid layers being composed of rubber and another of felt impregnatedwith rubber. Y

6. A sole composed of a plurality of layers vulcanized together, one ofsaid layers .i

being composed of rubber and another of felt impregnated with rubber.V

7. A boot or shoe sole comprising a layer of rubber-impregnated felt anda layer of Waterproof material secured together.

8. A boot or shoe sole comprising a layer of rubber-impregnated felt anda layer of flexible material secured together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

RUSSELL T. ELVELL.

Vitnesses: Y

ROBERT I-I. KAMMLER, F. IRENE CHANDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

